Long-term effect of naproxen on cancellous bone in ovariectomized rats

Previous work shows that at 42 d post-ovariectomy (OX) in aged rats, naproxen, a nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prevents cancellous bone loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of naproxen on cancellous bone of aged OX and sham-OX rats, at 90 days post-OX. Six-month-old Sprague-Dawley retired breeder female rats underwent either sham-OX (n = 49) or OX (n = 65). Sham-OX rats were randomized into five groups and OX rats into six groups. The first five groups of both were given ad lib access to water containing 0, 4, 10, 25, or 62.5 mg/l of naproxen sodium. The sixth group of OX rats was given water containing 156.25 mg naproxen sodium/l. After ninety days, the rats were killed following in vivo dual calcein labeling. Terminal serum naproxen was measured by HPLC. In the proximal tibial metaphysis, trabecular bone volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, mineralizing surface (double label), osteoclast surface, and bone formation rate were measured. Sham-OX and OX rats were compared by t-test of means. Kruskal-Wallis tests and, as necessary, Dunnett's t-tests, were applied separately to the groups of Sham-OX and OX rats. Dose-related serum levels of naproxen up to 9.4 mcg/ml were achieved in the 156.25 mg/ml group. OX rats had significantly lower bone volume, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number than Sham-OX groups (p less than .001). OX rats had significantly higher mineralizing surface, formation rate, and osteoclast surface than sham-OX rats (p less than .001). No differences related to naproxen treatment existed in sham-OX rats. Naproxen treatment producing a serum level of 9.4 mcg/ml reduced bone volume in OX rats consuming water with 156.25 mg/l (p less than .05). At 90 days post-OX, naproxen, at serum levels of 9.4 mcg/ml or less, did not diminish estrogen-depletion cancellous bone loss in rats. Naproxen lacks lasting ability to halt estrogen-depletion bone loss in aged OX rats.